Coin and token separator



Jan, 26, 1937. w. A. TRATSCH El AL com AND TOKEN SEPARATOR Filed May 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Valler A Tia fscfz and Bernfz ara' C Gran W mm I INVENTORZ BY W mg /z ATTORNEY.

Jan. 26, 1937. w. A. TRATSCH El AL 2,069,051

I COIN AND TOKEN SEPARATOR Filed May 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 h mw vw mm THEIR. ATTORNEY.

ww mm Waller A. Trazsc/z and Bernhard CGrum' 06 AN Wm. 1115:?iliiie Patented Jan. 26, 1937 ihh dEATES PATENT OFWQE Walter A. Tratsch and Bernhard C. Grunig, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 4, 1936, Serial No. 77,670

5 Claims.

This invention relates to coin and token separators.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved coin and token separator which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved coin and token separator which is especially adapted for use in conjunction with token dispensing devices, and which is so constructed. that it will permit the amusement apparatus with which the separator is associated to be operated either by a token or by a coin of the proper diameter, denomination, etc, but will discharge the tokens used to operate the device into a storage magazine provided for the reception of the same in the cabinet of the said combination amusement and token dispensing device; and which will discharge the coins which are used to operate the device into a separate receptacle provided therefor in the :cabinet of he combination amusement and token dispensing device in conjunction with which the present separator is used, thereby assuring that the combination amusement and token vending device with which the present separator is used will vend only tokens redeemable in merchandise, prizes or the like, and not coins.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved coin and token separator which is so constructed that it will permit the amusement apparatus, with which the separator is associated, to be operated either by a token or by a coin of proper diameter, denomination, etc, and will normally discharge the tokens used to operate the device into a storage magazine provided for the reception of the same in the cabinet of the said amusement device; and which will normally discharge the coins which are used to operate the device into a separate receptacle provided in the cabinet of the said amusement device; thereby assuring that tokens be stored in one compartment and that coins be stored in a separate and different compartment, the said token separator being constructed in such a manner that by the insertion of a peg into the frame of the said token separator, a part oi the latter will become inoperative and thereby convert the device into a conventional type coin chute wherein all tokens, coins, and the like, used to operate the amusement device are discharged into one compartment.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combina tion and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a combination amusement and token vending device showing a preferred form of the present coin and token separator associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the new coin and token separator, on line 2--2 in Fig. 2, showing the parts in their initial or coinreceiving position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on line 33 in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, on line '44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken on line 55 in Fig. 2, showing the movable parts therein disposed in normal position;

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5, but showing a coin associated with the movable parts and the latter disposed in an intermediate position;

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 5, but showing the movable parts disposed in full stroke position;

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 5, showing a movable part therein disposed in normal position, but showing a part of the coin and token separator in an inoperative'position with respect to the said movable part;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on line 9--9 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 9, but showing a part of the coin and token separator in an inoperative position as seen in the plan view of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along line H|l in Fig. 3.

A preferred form of the present coin and token separator is shown in the drawings, is therein generally indicated at H], and is shown in its preferred use, namely, as used in conjunction with a combination amusement and token vending device, which is generally indicated at H (Fig. 1), this combination amusement and token vending device H including a token storage magazine or receptacle l2 provided in the cabinet of the same (Fig. 2) for the reception of tokens which may be dispensed from the device (by means not shown) by the successful operation of the same, and which tokens may either be used for operating the device, that is. for releasing the coin control, or for purchasing merchandise, as the proprietor of the device and the player may desire.

The new coin and token separator ll] combelow the guide structure I3.

prises a guide structure which is generally indicated at I3, and a coin slide It, the guide structure I3 being provided with a face plate or mounting plate I5, by means of which the present coin and token separator may be attached to a wall I6 of the cabinet of the combination amusement and token vending device Il (Fig. 2); and the separator II] is also provided with the usual dogs and other fraud-prevention devices, generally indicated at ll, for preventing the use of spurious or fraudulent coins or tokens, such devices being preferably those described in Patents Nos. 1,908,380, 1,908,752 and 2,026,921.

It is also to be noted that the present coin and token separator is shown as being associated with a coin chute of the type described in the above-mentioned Patents Nos. 1,908,380, 1,908,752 and 2,026,921, and hence only so much of the construction of that coin chute will be described herein as is necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

Provided in the guide structure I3 is a depressed ledge 42 onto which coins or tokens are discharged from the coin aperture I9 of the coin slide I l, and in addition to the usual devices ll for preventing the use of spurious or fraudulent coins or tokens, the present coin and token separator is preferably provided with a sight opening or pocket I8 into which the coins or tokens are discharged from the depressed ledge 42 (Fig. 2), this sight opening l8 being formed, in part, as a recess or opening which is provided in a wall 20 of the guide structure I3, the construction of this sight opening or pocket I8 being more fully described and claimed in the applicants co-pending application Serial No. 11,103, filed March 14, 1935.

When a coin or token is disposed in the sight opening or pocket I8, it rests upon the bottom wall 2! of a guide structure 22 which is arranged Carried by this guide structure 22 is an auxiliary slide 23, and this guide structure 22 is supported by and is suspended from the guide structure I3. Provided in the lower or auxiliary slide 23 is a coin or token-receiving aperture 38 having an opening 52 formed at one edge 21 of the slide23.

Formed in the bottom wall 2! of the guide structure 22 (Figs. 2, l, 5, 6, '7, 8, 9 and is a substantially oval-shaped token discharge aperture 24, and likewise formed in the bottom wall 2I of the guide structure 22 is a coin discharge aperture 25, these discharge apertures 24 and 25 being separated by a transverse web 26 which forms a part of the bottom wall 2i of the guide structure 22 and from which an apron 45 depends for reasons to be given presently.

Extending along one longitudinal edge 21 of the bottom or auxiliary slide 23, and supported by the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22 (Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive) and in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom wall 2! of the guide structure 22 is a pressure or wedge bar 28 which is urged against the edge portion 2i of the lower or auxiliary slide 23 (bottom to top,

Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive) by two springs 29, the pressure bar 28 being arranged in the guide structure 22 upon the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22 and between a side wall of the same and the edge 21 of the slide 23.

Formed in one longitudinal or side edge of the pressure bar 28 are two spaced indentations, cutout portions, or recesses SI and 32 (Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive), it being noted in Figs. 5 to '7, incluthe latter in its movement axially with the slide IQ, for reasons to be given presently.

Formed in the guide 22 adjacent the side wall 36 of the latter are openings. and 49 which are in vertical alignment with respect to each other (Figs. 9 and 10). The Wedge bar 28 is likewise provided with an opening 5!) which is normally disposed eccentric of the aligned openings 58 and 4a of the guide 22 by action of the springs 29 upon the wedge bar 28.

A pin or peg 5! is adapted to be inserted into the aligned openings 48 and 49, and when the pin 5i is so disposed (Fig. 10) it is likewise passed through the opening 50 formed in the wedge bar 28, thereby bringing the opening 5!) into vertical alignment with the openings 48 and ii) formed in the guide 22, whereupon the wedge bar 28 will be urged away from the edge 21 of the slide 23 against the action of the springs 29,

thereby rendering the wedge bar 28 inefiective I with respect to the auxiliary slide 23, the significance of which will become apparent presently. Carried by the lower or auxiliary slide 23 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a stud or post bottom discharge slot 25 and being adapted to;

work in an extension 39 of the same.

Operation he tokens or checks used with the present token and coin separator are somewhat smaller;

in diameter than the coins used in connection with the same. Accordingly, when a token or check of the intended and proper diameter is placed in the coin aperture IQ of the slide i4 and the latter is pushed inwardly (left to right, Fig. 2), the token or check will drop from the coin aperture I9 of the coin slide I4 onto the depressed ledge 42 from which it will be dislodged by the depressed tooth 43 of the slide I4 into the sight opening or pocket I8 wherein it will be disposed upon the upper surface of the lower slide 23, it being understood that when the upper slide I4 is pushed inwardly (left to right, Figs. 2 and 3) the extension engages the post or stud 32, whereupon the two slides I l and 23 move together, thus moving the aperture 38 in the lower slide 23 out of registration with the sight opening or pocket I8, this movement of the two sides M and 23 being made against the action of the resetting spring 3'! and the stud during this operation, working in the slot 35-39.

Accordingly, when the parts are moved to full stroke position (as in Fig. 7) and released, the

tcnsioned resetting spring 3! will return the slides Ia and 23 to their initial or coin-receiving positions (as in Fig. 2) thereby moving the coin aperture 38 in the lower slide 23 into registration with the sight opening or pocket I8,

whereupon the token which has previously been discharged into the sight opening :or pocket 18, and is at this time resting upon the upper surface of the bottom slide 23, will now fall into the coin aperture 38 of the bottom slide 23.

Accordingly, when the coin slides l4 and 23 are again moved inwardly, as above set forth, the token or check which is now disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower slide 23 will be moved into registration with the token discharge aperture 24 whereupon it will be discharged through the substantially oval-shaped discharge aperture 24 (Figs. 2 and 4) and will be deflected by the depending apron into the token storage magazine or receptacle !2, from which it may be dispensed or ejected by means of the token or check dispensing apparatus with which the present coin separator is intended to be associated.

However, when a coin 53 of the intended and proper diameter is inserted into the coin aperture !9 of the coin slide 14 and the latter and the lower side 23 are pushed inwardly (left to right, Fig. 2), and are retracted into their initial or coin-receiving positions, by means of the tensioned resetting spring 31, the coin 53 which is at this time disposed in the sight opening [8, upon the upper surface of the lower slide 23, will fall into the coin aperture 38 of the bottom slide 23, and in this position a part of the peripheral edge portion of the coin will project through the opening 52 and into the notched or cut-out portion 3! of the pressure bar 28, whereupon, when the bottom slide 23 is again moved in wardly (left to right, Figs. 2, 4, 5, 6 and '7), the coin, being slightly larger in diameter than the tokens or checks which are used in connection with the device, will pass, along the upper surface of the bottom wall 2! of the guide structure 22, over the token-discharge aperture 24 v and across the transverse web portion 26 of the bottom wall 25 of the guide structure 22, which web portion or partition 26 separates the coin discharge aperture 25 from the token discharge aperture 25. During this movement the peripheral edge portion of the coin, which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower slide 23, will ride out of the notched portion 3| of the pressure bar 28 and will bear against the edge or wall til of the latter, thereby tensioning or compressing the springs 29 and thus causing the springs 29 to urge the pressure bar 23 into engagement with the coin which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower slide 23. This pressure of the bar 28 against the coin which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the lower slide 23 will cause the said coin to remain in a horizontal plane, as it passes over the tokendischarge aperture '24 and prevents the forward or advancing peripheral edge portion of the said coin from tilting or nosing downwardly as it passes over the coin discharge aperture 24, thus preventing the forward or advancing peripheral edge portion of the coin from engaging the transverse wall 26 which separates the token-discharge aperture 24 from the coin discharge aperture 25.

Accordingly, as the coin slides I4 and 23 are moved further inwardly (left to right, Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and '7) the coin, which is at this time disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the bottom slide 23, will travel over the upper surface of the bottom wall 2| of the guide structure 22, and over the transverse web 26 which separates the coin discharge aperture 25 from the token discharge 1aper'ture'24 (Figs. 6 and '7), and will thus eventually .be moved into registration with the 'coin discharge aperture '25, it being noted that during this movement of the coin moves progressively into the position in which the coin aperture 35 is shown in Fig. 7; and when the coin which is disposed in the coin aperture 38 of the bottom slide 23, comes into registration with the coin discharge aperture 25 that part of the peripheral edge portion of the coin which bears against the edge or wall 4| of the pressure bar 28 "will fall into the notched or recessed portion 32 of the pressure bar 28, thereby relieving the pressure of the coin upon the pressure bar 28 and the springs 29, whereupon the said coin will fall through the coin discharge aperture 25 into a suitable receptacle which may be provided therefor in the cabinet of the apparatus l! with which the present coin and token separator is associated.

The coin slides 23 and M will then be reset into their initial or coin-receiving positions (as in Fig. 2) by the tensioned resetting spring 2?.

In the practice of operating amusement devices it is at times desired that all coins or tokens be discharged into one receptacle, which would under such circumstances require the removal of the token and coin separator of the type herein described and replacing the latter with a conventional coin chute. This, however, is overcome by the present device by providing a pin or peg 5|, having one end thereof terminating into a point which is inserted into the vertically aligned openings 48 and 49 of the guide 22 which will, as has already been described, dispose the normally eccentric opening 50 of the pressure member 28 into vertical alignment with the openings 48 and 49 (Figs. 8 and .10) thereby urging the pressure members away from the auxiliary slide 23 against the action of the springs '29, whereupon the pressure member 28 will be ineffective in its function with respect to the token and coin separator hereinbefore described.

With the device in the condition described in the foregoing paragraph, that is, with the pin 5| inserted through the openings 48, 49 and 53 (Figs. Sand 10)., the auxiliary slide 23 is guided in its movement axially with the slide [4 by the guide spring 46 which is mounted upon the side wall 45 of the guide 22 (Figs. 8 and 11) The coin chute will now operate in a conventional manner, similar to the operation of the coin chute described in Patent No. 2,026,921, in this particular instance discharging both coins and tokens through the opening 24 formed in the bottom wall 2| of the guide 22 whence they may be conveyed into a common receptacle by a chute, tube or any other conveyor (not shown).

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A coin and token separator comprising a guide structure; a coin slide carried by the said guide structure and provided with a coin or token-receiving aperture; a second guide structure supported by and arranged below the said first-named guide structure and including a bottom wall provided with a token-discharge aperture and with a coin-discharge aperture, said discharge apertures being spaced from each other in the direction of the axis of movement of said slides; a coinslide carried by the said secondnamed guide structure for movement by, and in a plane substantially parallel to and below, the said first-named slide, and said second-named slide having a token or coin-receiving aperture formed therein with an open side wall opening into the edge of said slide and the same being adapted to receive a coin or token discharged from the said coin aperture of said first-named slide; means including a selector member co-aoting with the said second-named slide to support a coin having a diameter slightly greater than that of a token of predetermined size in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the said coin apertures and of said second-named slide during movement of the said coin past the said tokendischarge aperture and into the said coin discharge aperture, said second guide structure having a peg-receiving formation, and said selector member having a peg opening and being rendered ineffective in its aforesaid coin supporting operation by means of a peg inserted in the said pegreceiving formation in the guide structure and in the peg opening of the selector member.

2. A coin and token separator comprising a guide structure; a coin slide carried by the said guide structure and provided with a coin or token-receiving aperture; a second guide structure having a pin-receiving formation and supported by and arranged below the said firstnamed guide structure and including a bottom Wall provided with a token-discharge aperture and with a coin-discharge aperture, said discharge apertures being spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the slides and the said coin-discharge aperture being slightly wider than the width of said token-discharge aperture; a coin slide carried by the said second-named guide structure for movement by, and in a plane substantially parallel to and below, the said firstnamed slide, and said second-named slide having a token or coin-receiving aperture formed therein with an open side wall opening into the edge of the same said slide and adapted to receive a coin or token discharged from the said coin aperture of said first-named slide; and means including a movable selector bar provided with a pin-receiving opening and co-acting With the said second-named slide to support a coin, having a diameter slightly greater than the width of the said token-discharge aperture, in a substantially horizontal plane in the said coin aperture of said second-named slide during movement of the said coin past the said token-discharge aperture and into the said coin discharge aperture, said selector bar being rendered immovable to support a coin as aforesaid by means of a pin member inserted in the said pin-receiving opening thereof and in said pin-receiving formation of said second guide structure.

3. A coin and token separator including a guide structure having vertically aligned openings formed therein, and including a bottom wall provided with two spaced discharge apertures; a slide carried by the said guide structure for movement in a plane substantially normalto the common axis of the said aligned openings, means for moving said slide from a normal to a full-strike position, said slide having a token-receiving aperture with an open side wall part formed therein;

a pressure member arranged in said guide structure and normally bearing against an edge of said slide and having a notched edge part for registration with the open side of said tokenreceiving aperture in said slide when the slide is in initial position and further having an offset pin opening formed therein disposed out of register with the said vertically aligned openings in the guide structure when said pressure member is in normal effective position; said pressure member co-acting with the said slide to support a coin of a given or larger diameter in a substantially horizontal plane during the movement of the said slide from its said initial position to its full-stroke position so that the said coin may pass over the first one of said discharge apertures and into the other of the same in said guide, said pressure member having a second notched edge part for registration with the open side of the aperture in said slide when the latter is in full stroke position with its said token-receiving aperture registered with said second discharge aperture; and a pin adapted to be inserted through, and disposed in, the said vertically aligned openings and the said ofiset opening formed in the pressure member, the latter opening being registerable with the former by moving the said pressure member into ineffective position whereby the said pressure member will be held ineffective for movement against the said slide, thereby permitting coins and tokens todrop through the first one of said discharge apertures.

4. A coin and token separator for separating coins or tokens of different diameter comprising a guide structure; a slide carried by the said guide structure and provided with a token-receiving or coin-receiving aperture; a second guide structure arranged below the said first-named guide structure and including a bottom wall provided with two spaced discharge apertures; a slide carried by the said second-named guide structure for movement in a plane substantially parallel to but below the said first-named slide and by the latter, said second-named slide having a master token-receiving or coin-receiving aperture with an open side formed therein and adapted to receive a coin or token discharged from the said coin aperture of said first-named slide; a yieldable pressure member arranged in the second-named guide structure and having a notched edge registered with the open side of said master aperture when the slide of the latter is in initial position co-acting with the said second-named slide to firmly support a coin of a determined diameter substantially in the plane of the said master coin aperture and the said second-named slide during the movement of the latter from its normal or initial position into its effective or full-stroke position by said first slide, so that a said coin may pass over the first one of said discharge apertures and into the other of the same while a token of lesser diameter than said coin will drop through said first one of said discharge apertures, the said notched part of said pressure member engaging an edge part of a coin or token of a determined or larger diameter which edge part protrudes through the said open side of the master aperture, while coins or tokens of less than said determined diameter are not engaged by the notched part of said pressure memher and are not carried over said first one of said discharge apertures; and means for rendering the said pressure member inactive relative to the said second named slide thereby causing the said coin to drop through the first one of said discharge apertures, said means including a peg member insertible into a peg aperture provided in said guide member and a second peg aperture in said yieldable pressure member and normally out of register with said first peg aperture when the pressure member is in efiective position, the said peg apertures being alignable for reception of said peg by moving said pressure member out of effective position.

5. A coin and token separator comprising a guide structure; a coin slide carried by the said guide structure and provided with a receiving aperture for coins or tokens; a second guide struc ture having a pin opening and supported by and arranged below the said first-named guide structure and including a bottom wall provided with a token-discharge aperture and with a coin-discharge aperture, said discharge apertures being spaced from each other; a coin slide carried by the said second-named guide structure having means for operative engagement by said first slide for movement in a plane substantially parallel to but below the said first-named slide; said second-named slide having a token or coin-receiving aperture formed therein disposed to receive a coin or token after the discharge of the same from the said coin aperture of said first-named slide and adapted to expose an edge portion of a said coin or token for engagement with coin supporting means; means cooperating with the said second-named slide to support a coin, having a diameter slightly greater than that of a token of predetermined size and which will drop through said token discharge aperture, in a substantially horizontal plane in the said coin aperture of said second-named slide so that the said coin may be moved uniformly past the said token discharge aperture and into the said coin dis- 1 charge aperture; said means comprising a pressure bar carried by the said second-named guide structure and including a pin-receiving formation and an edge portion having a pair of spaced notches or indentations formed therein; the said coin aperture of the said second-named slide being further disposed to expose a said coin or token edge in registration with one of said notches When the said second-named slide is in its normal or initial position; and the said coin discharge aperture being disposed in registration with the other of said notches; urging means carried by the said second-named guide structure for urging the said edge portion of said pressure bar into engagement with said second-named slide; and means including a pin receivable in the said pin opening of said second guide structure and in the pin-receiving formation in said pressure member to hold the latter out of effective position relative to said second-named slide against the action of said urging means.

WALTER A. TRATSCH. BERNHARD C. GRUNIG. 

